SCO summit vows to boost regional peace, stability, prosperity

TASHKENT, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The 10th annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded here Friday with a declaration pledging to build an effective and open multilateral organization dedicated to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The declaration also pledged to strengthen mutual support on issues relating to each other's core interests, boost cooperation in the combat against terrorism, separatism and extremism and other destabilizing factors, enhance cooperation in overcoming the aftermath of the global financial crisis and in the development of infrastructure in the region.

The SCO has developed into a highly efficient and open multilateral organization, being an important factor in the international and regional security and cooperation structures, the declaration said.

The organization will stick to its practice of shunning ideological means, cliquing or confrontation in efforts to settle major problems emerging in the process of international and regional development.

SCO members are determined to carry out all-around cooperation within the SCO framework and develop the organization into a reliable guarantee of regional peace, stability and prosperity, the declaration said.

Nowadays, as security threats and challenges continue to emerge, SCO members should further enhance their cooperation in fighting all forms of terrorism and strengthen dialogue between different civilizations and cultures so as to prevent the growth of terrorism and extremism, it said.

The declaration stressed that Central Asia's initiative to build a nuclear-free zone is not only an important step in promoting regional peace and security but also will contribute greatly to regional and global peace and security.

The unrestricted deployment of anti-missile systems will possibly become a destabilizing factor menacing global security and may lead to the proliferation of missile weapons, the declaration warned.

On the economic front, the leaders agreed to strengthen coordination to better deal with the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Member countries will implement joint programs in the fields of transportation, communication and others to boost trade and investment with the aim to improve the economic competitiveness of all countries, said the declaration.

At the summit, the leaders approved Resolution of the Council of the Heads of the SCO Member States on the approval of the SCO Rules of Procedure and Resolution of the Council of Heads of the SCO Member States on approval of the regulations on procedure for admitting new members to the SCO, laying the foundation for its future expansion, the declaration noted.

Member states pledged to strengthen cooperation with observers and dialogue partners to attract their resources and markets, it said.

Observer countries of the SCO include Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India while Belarus and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.

The declaration concluded that the SCO will carry on the spirit of peace, common development, cooperation on an equal footing, mutual respect and tolerance, and further strengthen its dialogue and cooperation with the international community to make great contribution to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.

Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Next year, the SCO will hold a series of activities to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

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